Whew!  How ’bout that game last night?  The Washington Capitals beat the Montreal Canadiens in a plum zinger of a hockey game.  John Carlson and Nick Backstrom summoned some playoff heroics for us, but there’s a problem: they’re both clean-shaven.  Do they know something we don’t?

Just between you and me, RMNB might have taken the celebration too far.  The word hangover seems understated; it’s more like an aftermath.  Compounding the problem, Caps Nation is looking increasingly more haggard.  Scanning the #beardpact channel, I’m seeing a broad spectrum of growth.  Before we get to the parade of stubble, let’s check in with the Russian Machinists.

El Hefe Ian Oland is cheering up, but he’s still #1 on the  most likely to shave list.  Do not let him.

Sentence-maker Peter Hassett is cheerful despite looking terrible.

Numerical Savant Neil Greenberg‘s whimsy declined somewhat in the second period last night.

Even the elusive Russian correspondent Fedor Fedin is getting in on the action!

Parade of Stubble!

It’s never too late to join #beardpact!  Hide your razors now and post your pic on Twitter with the hashtag.  Support your fellow fans who chose to look like serial killers, especially the high-risk ones (like Ian) who might bail.

The magic is starting to work.  Don’t quit now!